Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Will Fall Ever Come?

Its October 1st and its over 80 degrees! I'm still using sunscreen flip flops and shorts! The nation is burning up currently (L.A. was at 113 a few days ago) and my small town hasn't been spared. Oh, how I looking forward to pulling out my lovely plaid pea coats, textured tights and striped scarves. I cannot wait for Autumns return with its cool evenings, hearty stews and nights spent by a fireside! Most of my friends think I'm crazy, but honestly, for me three months of crazy hot weather is enough! Must we make it four? five? Well, at least my students are enjoying it,but they'll change their tune when the leaves are enough for pile jumping and when we get frosts promising snow.

Art Up-Date

Today I though that I'd take you through the process that an artist uses to create a painting.

1. The first step is rather organic and spontaneous. Out of no-where a vague idea of forms/shapes will come accompanied with a certain mood. The trick is to grab whatever writing utensil and paper is laying near by and to draw before the "vision" leaves.

This is the initial "Vision" Sketch

2. The next task is to experiment with color studies. If you've ever been to an art

museum you must have at least once asked yourself, "how did he know to use that red and not another?" or "how come color combinations come so easily to artists?". These thoughts are completely valid and I'm often asked them. Artists take time before starting "masterpieces" to make small 4x3 inch color studies of the would be painting. By laying out color ideas on a small foot print side by side its easier to gage how orange the sun should be or vivid the grass should be. Should the moonlight be more white, or light yellow?

Here is the color study I picked.

3. Finally the third faze is the structure study. For my painting I had to be sure that the bone structure, shadowing, fabric folds and stance of my subject were up to my original vision's and nature's standards.

Here is my final Structure Study.

When you line up all the steps together you have a genuinely useful blue-print for your painting.

Well ,that's what I've always done for my paintings, what about you guys? Do you ever plan out art projects, sowing projects or gardens like this?

Monday, September 20, 2010

Last weekend I woke up with an awful cold, being an art teacher, you tend to pick up whatever is going around. With the aid of much Theraflu, cough drops and understanding from my family (I get irritable when sick) I'm now feeling much better.

Now for the fun stuff!

The weekend before last was my first art booth show! For 25 dollars I got a 10x10' booth to fill with hand painted signs, art prints, cards, and one hand painted chair (above). I sold quiet a bit considering the customer traffic being low that day.

Painting update

Although my painting is only half-way done you can still get an idea of what it's going to be like.Write you later,

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Yikes!

That was by far the craziest summer I've had in awhile! For the past two months my family and I have been living the "Simple Life" as some romanticisers call it. Within a few weeks our computer's mother board died, the microwave putted out, our lawn mower's wheel flew off (there were no injuries) our heating/airconditioning decided to take a break, one toilet threw a fit for a few days, the kitchen light magically stopped receiving electricity, and our laptop (being a trend follower) also had it's mother board fried. After this experience, I now hold the highest of respects for Laura Ingle.

Once I had come to terms with God wanting me to be Amish, I found that living without these "basic needs" which us Americans cling to so dearly to, life is much more enjoyable. Sure it isn't the quickest way to warm up cold spaghetti when using a stove, or the easiest thing constantly drive to the library to access e-mail, but I found that without all of these electrical distractions (particularly the computer) I was able to devote more time to art and living. I spent my mornings not glued to the computer but sitting on my back patio, enjoying the cool mornings with my mother and a cup of coffee. The dragon flies would buzz around us as flower petals doused in dew would smile toward the clear sky. Lunches were spent in our newly light blue painted dining room with the screen doors wide open. Around 1:00 I would float in my pool reading a favorite book from my early school days. My puppy would lay on the hot patio happy as can be. Josie (my sister) found that true literature is in fact a wonderful thing after she picked up Pride and Prejudice and didn't put it down for three days. I found a new life-long friend after noticing that she had in fact been sitting next to me for the last 9 months in school. My mother (who has the summers off) decided to finally end her facebook, which after much reflection, was discovered to be a source of great stress. Even my hard working Father took a long overdue two week vacation with us up and down the beautiful Oregon Coast. When I saw him take it slow and be entirely content with the scenic coast I thanked God for the rare opportunity.

We learned to slow down, and to take life as it comes. This is probably one of the hardest summers to see come to an end, but I also know that with the right attitude towards life's crazy quirks, such as deadly lawnmower wheels and my little sister reading Jane Austin, its those very odd occurrences that make it such a grand adventure, whether it's Summer, Spring, Winter or Fall. These are the moments worth living for and I 'm ready to see what comes next.

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About Sarah B

Sarah Bosserman is an artist from Portland Oregon living in Dallas Texas. She's a world traveler and experienced art teacher. To contact her for enquiries into her art, or to just say hi, email SarahBosserman@gmail.com